DeJong, who carries a 3.95 grade-point average in nursing, added the academic honor to her CoSIDA Academic All-District III honor this season. The Melbourne Beach, Fla., native was also an NSCAA and D2CCA All-Region honoree in 2016, as well as an All-Peach Belt Conference second-team honoree.

Schroedel carries a 3.95 GPA in molecular biology. The Marietta native was also an NSCAA and D2CCA All-Region honoree in 2016 and was an All-PBC first-team selection.

MEAC rookie honor for

SSU’s Robert Kelly

NORFOLK, Va. —— Savannah State freshman Robert Kelly has been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week.

Kelly, a 6-foot-7 forward, came off of the bench to score a game-high and a career-high 24 points in the Tigers’ 93-90 overtime win over Pac-12 member Oregon State on Sunday.

The SSU victory was the Tigers’ first road win of the season and snapped a five-game losing skid.

A Powder Springs native, Kelly also had a career-high nine rebounds, shot 9 of 11 from the field and made both of his 3-point attempts.

STATE

Atlanta United makes moves before draft

ATLANTA — Atlanta United has been preparing for its inaugural season with a busy weekend and may be looking for players with MLS experience in today’s expansion draft.

The expansion team, which begins play in 2017, acquired Michael Parkhurst from Columbus on Sunday. Atlanta also acquired Romario Williams from Montreal, Kevin Kratz from Philadelphia, Harrison Heath from Orlando City SC, and general and targeted allocation money from New York City FC.

And Atlanta United obtained an international spot for the 2017 and 2018 seasons from Colorado Rapids, in exchange for its natural second-round selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.

Atlanta United president Darren Eales said Monday the draft is “one mechanism” of building a roster. He says free agency will be another way to add MLS experience to the roster.

NATIONAL

Locke, Ellis, McGowan finalize deals with Marlins

MIAMI — Left-hander Jeff Locke has signed his $3,025,000, one-year deal with the Miami Marlins.

The team also announced on Monday contracts with catcher A.J. Ellis and right-hander Dustin McGowan, a graduate of Long County High School in Ludowici. The deals were reached last week at the winter meetings.

Locke’s deal includes award bonuses ranging from $25,000 for making the All-Star Game to $100,000 for being chosen World Series most valuable player.

Ellis signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract to back up J.T. Realmuto, and McGowan signed a $1.75 million, one-year deal to remain with Miami. Their agreements include award bonuses similar to Locke’s.

Prosecutor wants 60-year sentence for ex-Saint’s killer

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans’ district attorney said he’ll seek 60 years in prison for the man who killed New Orleans Saints star Will Smith — the maximum 40 years for manslaughter, plus another 20 years for attempted manslaughter in the wounding of Smith’s wife.

“We will do our gut-level best to get the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 60 years,” Leon Cannizzaro told reporters Monday.

Cardell Hayes was found guilty Sunday night after insisting that he only fired because the retired NFL player was drunk and violent and had grabbed a gun following their collision in traffic last April.

No one else testified Smith ever held a gun. A loaded .9-mm semi-automatic handgun was found loaded but unused inside Smith’s car.

Smith, a 34-year-old father of three, was a defensive leader on the Saints team that lifted spirits in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He helped carry the team to a winning season in 2006 and a Super Bowl victory four years later.

His death in a dispute over traffic was shocking, even for a city with a high rate of homicides.

Hayes, 29, will be sentenced on Feb. 17. State Judge Camille Buras will have the option of imposing less than the maximum sentences, and could order them served concurrently. But the D.A. said the crime warrants maximum sentences, served one after the other.

Hayes would have faced a mandatory life sentence had he been found guilty as charged of second-degree murder, and Racquel Smith will press for a harsh sentence when she gives her victim impact statement before the sentencing, according to a statement from the family.

“It’s very unfortunate that another child will grow up without a father,” said Raquel Smith’s lawyer, Peter Thomson, referring to Hayes’ 6-year-old son. “But Mr. Hayes, regardless of that, must face the consequences of his actions under our system of laws.”